Boeing is introducing two subscription-based inflight optimization services, intended to help airlines reduce fuel consumption and increase environmental efficiency. They will be available in 2011. The services, Direct Routes and Wing Updates, "are designed to be implemented within current air traffic and airline operating procedures using existing communication channels" according to the company, and "No regulatory changes and little to no new equipment are needed."
Pratt & Whitney Canada and Rolls-Royce celebrated the opening of their joint venture Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Environmental Research in Thompson, Manitoba on Oct. 29. The new facility specializes in ice tests for civil aerospace engine certification and can accommodate the largest aircraft engines in use today and will support the future growth of gas turbine engines of up to 150,000 lb. thrust with fan diameters of up to 140 in., Pratt said.
Boeing projected that 2011 full-year global passenger traffic will grow slightly below its 20-year forecast rate of 5.3% annually, rising 5% year-over-year. In a recent blog post, Commercial Airplanes VP-Marketing Randy Tinseth said the manufacturer foresees cargo growth of 6% in 2011. Boeing in July predicted average annual growth rates of 5.3% for passengers and 5.9% for cargo through 2029 ( ATW Daily News, July 16).
Six unions representing French pilots and cabin crew announced Saturday a four-day strike starting Nov. 5 to protest taxes on various job-related perks, sending a fresh blow to travelers after strikes over pension reforms disrupted flights across France in October ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 20). Perks such as reduced fares, hotel room rates and airport parking would be subject to tax, the main Air France pilot union, SNPL, told AFP.
Air cargo operators are expecting the US Dept. of Homeland Security to issue new directives on airfreight security shortly, according to Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings President and CEO William Flynn, who said his company has been in "close contact" with DHS and the US Transportation Security Administration since Friday's revelation that two packages containing sophisticated bombs were intercepted en route from Yemen via package/express giants UPS and FedEx.
The Austrian government revealed more details on its so-called "ecological air travel levy," which will begin March 30, 2011 for all departing flights ( ATW Daily News, Oct. 26).
US NTSB is investigating an incident on Oct. 26 involving an American Airlines 757 that experienced a decompression event after a hole opened in the fuselage on the upper crown just above the left door. The aircraft was en route from Miami to Boston and landed safely after returning to Miami. Preliminary indications are that a section of the fuselage skin approximately 1-ft. by 1-ft. tore away.
The UK Office of Fair Trade is investigating whether Ryanair’s 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus could lead to a "substantial lessening of competition"and if it has the ability to exercise "material" influence over Aer Lingus’ commercial policy. OFT said it would also investigate whether it has the jurisdiction to investigate the acquisition and if it is within the statutory time period to investigate. If necessary, it will refer the case to the UK Competition Commission.
The interception of two packages containing sophisticated bombs last Friday sent from Yemen via package/express giants UPS and FedEx and the revelation Sunday that one of the packages traveled on a Qatar Airways passenger flight are likely to draw further scrutiny into the international shipment of express packages and could lead to new security regulations affecting both express/freight and combination carriers.
Cargolux Airlines International President and CEO Ulrich Ogiermann and Senior VP-Sales and Marketing Robert Van de Weg were indicted Thursday in US District Court in Miami on charges of conspiring to fix and coordinate certain surcharge rates on air cargo shipments to and from the US and for agreeing not to pay commissions on those surcharges, the US Justice Dept. said.
The European Commission Wednesday said it initiated infringement procedures against France, Germany, Austria and Finland over their bilateral air service agreements with Russia because they do not include the EU designation clause and, more specifically, because they contain provisions concerning Siberian overflights.
Alaska Airlines and Aircell launched the first inflight Internet service in the state of Alaska, with Gogo Inflight Internet onboard its Anchorage–Fairbanks flights. Service will go live on the remainder of the AS network later this year, which Aircell will expand to include Southeast Alaska by yearend. Aircell will keep the service complimentary until the remainder of its network goes live, it said. AS has outfitted more than 70% of its 737 aircraft with the Gogo service since May and expects fleet-wide installation to be complete in early 2011.
British Airways and Iberia called an extraordinary shareholders meeting for Nov. 29 and Nov. 28 or Nov. 29 on first or second call, respectively, to vote on their planned merger to create International Consolidated Airlines Group. The boards of both companies have already approved the merger and all regulatory approvals have been obtained. Both companies expect to complete the merger by Jan. 21, 2011 and IAG shares will start trading on the London Stock Exchange and Spanish Exchange Jan. 24, 2011.
CAE announced the sale of four 7000 Series full flight simulators to Korean Air and Air China. The contract is valued at approximately C$65 million ($63.6 million) at list prices and includes one A380 FFS and one 777-300ER FFS to KE and one A330 FFS and one 737-800 FFS to CA. KE's FFSs will be delivered in 2011 and 2012, respectively, while CA's will be delivered in early 2012.
SR Technics signed an Integrated Component Solutions contract with Swiss charter operator Hello. The contract, which runs until 2016, provides component services for five A320 aircraft. StandardAero reached a three-year exclusive maintenance agreement with Australia's Airnorth for work on the Hamilton Sundstrand APS2300 APU, installed on the carrier's E170s. Agreement includes two consecutive two-year options.
Estonian Air carried 57,398 in September, up 12.3% year-over-year. Hawaiian Airlines operated 701.1 million RPMs in September, up 8.3% on the year-ago month. Capacity climbed 5.9% to 818.2 million ASMs and load factor increased 1.9 points to 85.7%. Iberia operated 4.48 billion RPKs in September, a 10.1% increase over the year-ago month. Capacity grew 4.3% to 5.38 billion ASKs, lifting load factor 4.4 points to 83.4%.
The US National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday kicked off a two-day public forum in Washington on airline codesharing, primarily examining whether regional carriers operating under capacity purchase agreements with US legacy airlines adhere to the same safety standards as the mainline operators.
Travel Ad Network raises $15 million in new financing ITA Software rolls out Android version of OnTheFly Ideas Revenue Optimization teams with RaspberrySky consultancy Ideas showcases new revenue management features The mobile channel looms large at Amadeus Horizons conference What's next for airlines in the ancillary revenue arena? World news briefing
Amadeus is aiming to bring true personalization to airline websites and mobile portals with a new product called Dynamic Website Manager, slated for a launch in the first quarter of 2011 with Finnair. Airline websites recognize frequent flyer numbers but not much else, Denis Lacroix, vice president of product development, sales and e-commerce platforms, said. "Compare this to the shopping experience on Amazon. As you window-shop, they keep track and make recommendations," he said. "You don't find anything like this on any airline site."
News from Travel Technology Update: Amadeus is aiming to bring true personalization to airline websites and mobile portals with a new product called Dynamic Website Manager, slated for a launch in the first quarter of 2011 with Finnair. Airline websites recognize frequent flyer numbers but not much else, Denis Lacroix, vice president of product development, sales and e-commerce platforms, said.
